A History of the Peninsular War: January to September 1809 from the Battle of Corunna to the End

by Charles Oman

The fate of the Iberian Peninsula was very much in the balance during the period JanuaryvSeptember 1809, when it seemed all too possible that Napoleon would achieve control over Spain and Portugal. This volume covers the continuing Spanish resistance to French occupation, the renewed French invasion of Portugal, and the return to the Peninsula and subsequent victories of Sir Arthur Wellesley, including his outmanoeuvring of the French from Oporto and culminating in the hard-fought victory at Talavera.

Genres: History, Military History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction

720 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2006

About the author

Sir Charles William Chadwick Oman was a British military historian of the early 20th century. His reconstructions of medieval battles from the fragmentary and distorted accounts left by chroniclers were pioneering. His style is an invigorating mixture of historical accuracy and emotional highlights, and it makes his narratives, though founded on deep research, often read as smoothly as fiction, especially in his History of the Peninsular War. Occasionally, his interpretations have been challenged, especially his widely copied thesis that British troops defeated their Napoleonic opponents by firepower alone. Paddy Griffith, among modern historians, claims the British infantry's discipline and willingness to attack were equally important.

He was born in India, the son of a British planter, and was educated at Oxford University, where he studied under William Stubbs. In 1881 he was elected to a Prize Fellowship at All Souls College, where he would remain for the rest of his career.

He was elected the Chichele Professor of modern history at Oxford in 1905, in succession to Montagu Burrows. He was also elected to the FBA that year, serving as President of the Royal Historical and Numismatic societies, and of the Royal Archaeological Institute.

His academic career was interrupted by the First World War, during which he was employed by the government Press Bureau and Foreign Office.

Oman was a Conservative member of Parliament for the University of Oxford constituency from 1919 to 1935, and was knighted in 1920.

He became an honorary fellow of New College in 1936 and received the honorary degrees of DCL (Oxford, 1926) and LL.D (Edinburgh, 1911 and Cambridge, 1927). He died at Oxford.

Two of his children became authors. Son Charles wrote several volumes on British silverware and similar housewares. Daughter Carola was notable for her biographies, especially that of Nelson.

Reviews

[Alistair North · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest of Military Historians, Sir Charles Oman's multi-volume study of the Peninsular War covers the French Invasions of Spain and Portugal and the long struggle by the Spanish and Portuguese together with their British allies to liberate their Countries.

This Volume begins with the British Expeditionary Force being driven back across Spain to the evacuation at Corunna, and all seems lost (except for the French of course). The return of Sir Arthur Wellesley changes everything as he leads his British and Porguese troops in a daring river crossing at Oporto to drive Marshal Soult out of Portugal. This is followed up by the hard-fought victory at Talavera where Wellesley (and Spanish allies led by General Cuesta) fights the combined armies of Marshal Victor and King Joseph to a standtsill.

Elswhere, more French armies scatter Spanish forces seemingly at will, but they are starting to feel the constant drain of casualties due to the relentless efforts of the Spanish Guerillas - officially the first Guerilla War in History!

This volume ends with Wellesley (or Lord Wellington as he is to be known as forever after) making plans to defend Portugal from a fresh invasion ordered by Napoleon from Paris...

[Rob Markley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desert Island books... although it might be cheating to take a 7 volume book. However it is the sort of thing you could finish and start all over again on. There is nothing like it.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

There isn't really much I can add to the praise I have given to the first volume of this seminal work about Peninsular War. Extremely detailed, meticulously referenced and written in very accessible style - as long as you have a genuine interest in the topic, it is pure pleasure to read Oman's account of this conflict.

If I would choose to nitpick, then my only reservation would be in regard of Oman's almost absolute support of Wellesley's generalship. I suspect that not everybody will agree with author's undeniably pro-British stand. That is however question of possible differences in opinions between the author and the reader and doesn't take away from the high quality of work in this book.

[Errol Cavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still the best and best written account of the campaign. Each volume (and there are seven) is long and detailed but the pace rarely flags and. It is detailed, analytical and definitive, a prodigous work of scholarship and style

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account